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“Being that 14-year veteran, I can’t make that crucial mistake of leaving Brandon Jennings at the end,” Terry said. “So I told everybody I take this one on my shoulders, but this team is getting better and you can see it. You can see our focus. You can see our effort at both ends of the floor. Just a disappointing loss tonight.”
Their inability to score capped a frustrating offensive night where they were 23 of 60 in the final quarters and watched a 17-point lead disappear. Pierce led the Celtics with 19 points, but he missed 10 of 16 shots while Garnett added 17, but didn’t score in the final 6:32.
“We just didn’t keep the momentum going,” Garnett said. “Some of their veterans came in and got them back in the game. We give up 36 points [in the second quarter], that’s a lot of points for any team and we were in a dogfight from there on.”
And as usual, the Celtics were burned by a rebounding menace who changed the game. Sanders finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds off the bench. He made all four of his shots in the fourth quarter.
Jason Terry is doing an admirable thing here by falling on the sword for this loss, but when the Celtics begin the game with aggressive-hyena like defense not seen around these parts since the days of 2008 and 2009-ish, resulting with an early 17-0 lead, it’s hardly one man’s fault it ends up in a loss. According to a tweet from radio play-by-play announcer Sean Grande, it’s only the second time in 411 (!) games since the KG Era that the Celtics lost a game where they led by as many as 17. As an added bonus, Monta Ellis was on the opposing team both times. Monta Ellis was hardly the main reason why the Celtics coughed up a 17-0 lead to start the game.
After the first quarter the Celtics held Milwaukee to just 11 points on 5-18 shooting, forced 7 turnovers and out-rebounded the Bucks 14-11. After that, they got Bucked up all over the court. Sure JET missed a couple of clutch threes, Pierce missed a bomb and KG didn’t score in the final 6 minutes, but losing a game after being up 17-0 to start takes a team effort, just as building that initial 17 point lead. C’s have three days off now before Kevin Love and the Timberwolves make their annual trip to the Garden on Wednesday. Hopefully that first quarter defense is maintained for the majority of the game.
Related Links: Herald: Fast Start, Slow Burn | CSNNE: Bucks Rally to Kick Celtics, 91-88 | WEEI: Rondo-less Celtics Can’t Hold on
The rest of the links:
Globe: Adjustments with Celtics no problem for veteran Jason Terry | Greivis Vasquez having breakout season with Hornets (Sunday Notes) | Herald: Doc mourns man who gave moniker | Celtics put a spur in Stern’s side | CSNNE: Terry Shoulders Blame for C’s Loss | Majerus Remembered Fondly by Coaches | Sanders: With no Rondo we Knew we Could Pressure Celtics
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